Epheh (אֶפְעֶה) refers to a viper or venomous serpent. The exact species is uncertain but the context always implies deadly venom. The word appears in poetic and prophetic texts as an image of deadly danger, hidden menace, and the wickedness of the wicked whose tongues carry lethal poison.
The viper imagery connects to the serpent of Genesis 3 and the broader biblical theme of the enemy as a deadly, deceptive creature. John the Baptist and Jesus both called the religious leaders a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 3:7; 23:33), invoking the full weight of this serpent imagery. The gospel reversal is striking: Paul is bitten by a viper and survives unharmed (Acts 28:3-5), a sign that the sting of death has been conquered.